Bahamas, wife that fell off the dingy

rasbury

I do not understand the "facts" the news keeps stating. They had what appears to be a hard bottom dingh with a little kicker on it. The husband keeps stating the wife went overboard with the key and the engine shut off. This makes no sense. There is no center console, would it have a key? A "remote" key of some kind? Between cliffs and boats in the news, my wife won't go anywhere with me!

earl1z19

Its interesting to see people who don't boat try to explain a situation that involves a boat. The terminology doesn't fit and the explanation makes no sense. Locally they have been saying she fell off of the sailboat and not the dinghy, either way sounds like the guy didn't have a plan and certainly didn't think it through all the way.

Grahamu

@rasbury, It's not a key but a clip on the end of a lanyard. The clip goes into a button type switch and you cannot start the engine without it being in place. If you fall overboard the lanyard and clip pulls out of the switch and the engine stops so that you can hopefully get back on board.

captkevin

Husband has been arrested

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/husband-woman-reported-missing-bahamas-171317805.html

LaRea

Well, they got underway on a tiny 8-foot dinghy, at night, in bad weather -- but they didn't bring a VHF, and didn't wear PFDs.  That doesn't suggest great judgment.  

rasbury

Grahamu said:

@rasbury, It's not a key but a clip on the end of a lanyard. The clip goes into a button type switch and you cannot start the engine without it being in place. If you fall overboard the lanyard and clip pulls out of the switch and the engine stops so that you can hopefully get back on board.

Is that on a little 9 hp outboard? Sounds like you are 100% correct..seems like if he had let the boat drift he might have found her? All looks pretty fishy for sure...put the lanyard on your wrist but no floatation?

LaRea

Ras -- US law requires a safety lanyard (kill switch) for boats under 26 feet.  The boat has to have one installed, and the operator has to use it (except at no-wake speed, or if the helm is enclosed like a typical Rinker express cruiser).  That change was made about 5 years ago. 

Our dinghy has one, and I use it every time ... clipped to my PFD or belt loop.  I guess I should put a spare on the dinghy! 

rasbury

So, there is nothing to stop you from putting it in without the lanyard right?  I have the kill switch but could not tell you where the lanyard is...I got tired of every time I moved to much i killed the motor...this was an avoidable tragedy at the least...